Shoot... that sucks.
Yes, we do need something!
"Structural Biology Methods"?
More interesting question: does it need the GRC to host? What about
reimagining the CCP4 study weekend - the question keeps coming up there
anyway.
That's one for CCP4 WG1 to discuss - they're meeting straight after New
Year, so maybe James, you and Ivo should hop on a zoom and kick the idea
around.
Frank
On 16/12/2022 22:10, James Holton wrote:
I want to thank everyone who attended the 2022 Gordon Research
Conference and Gordon Research Seminar on Diffraction Methods in
Structural Biology, as well as all those who contributed to these
great gatherings in the past. It was an outstanding meeting if I do
say so myself. Not just because it had been so long without in-person
interaction, not just because we had zero covid cases (which I see as
no small feat of Mind over Virus), but because of this amazing
community. It is rare in this world to have such a strong spirit of
collaboration, camaraderie and openness in undertakings as high-impact
as this. Surmounting the barriers to atomic-detail imaging of
biological systems has never been more exciting and more relevant. I
am proud to be a part of it, and honored to have served as Chair.
It is therefore with heavy heart that I report to this community that
I was the last Chair of the Diffraction Methods GRC.
The GRC Conference Evaluation Committee
(https://www.grc.org/about/conference-evaluation-committee/) voted
this year to discontinue the Diffraction Methods GRC and GRS. This
ends a 46-year tradition that I feel played a vital, and vibrant role
in the work of the people who answer questions on this BB. The reason
given was insufficient attendance. All other metrics, such as
evaluation surveys and demographics were very strong. I have tried to
appeal, but I'm told the vote was unanimous and final. I understand
that like so many conference organizing bodies the GRC is having to
make tough financial decisions. I must say I disagree with this one,
but it was not my decision to make.
Many of the past and elected Chairs have been gathering and discussing
how to replace the Diffraction Methods GRC/GRS going forward. Many
great ideas, advice and perspectives have been provided, but that is a
select group. I feel it is now time to open up this discussion to the
broader community of structural methods developers and practitioners.
There are some important questions to ask:
* How do we define this community?
Yes, many of us do cryoEM too, but is that one methods
meeting? or two?
* Does this community need a new diffraction methods meeting?
As in one meeting or zero?
* Should we merge with an existing meeting?
It would make logistics easier, but a typical GRC has 22 hours
of in-depth presentations over 5 days. The GRS is 7 hours over 2
days. As Chair, I found that was not nearly enough.
* Where do you think structural methods are going?
I think I know, but I may be biased.
* Should the name change?
From 1976 to 2000, it was "Diffraction Methods in Molecular
Biology". The word "diffraction", BTW, comes from the Latin for
"shattering of rays", and originally used to describe the iridescence
of bird feathers. That's spectroscopy!
How about:
"Structural Methods for the Departing of Rays"
I'm sure there are many more questions, and better suggestions. I
look forward to enlightening discussions! GRCs have always been about
discussion, and I hope to keep that tradition alive in this community.
-James Holton
MAD Scientist
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1
This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a
mailing list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are
available at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/
########################################################################
To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link:
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1
This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a mailing list
hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are available at
https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/
